Revolving and oscillating fan



J. P. SMITH, JR

REVOLVING AND OSCILLATING FAN Feb. 14, 1928. Y 1,659,501

Filed NOV. 17. 1926 f ATTORNEYS.

Patented` Feb. 14,' 1928.

UNITED STATES JOSEPH P. SMITH, in., or xANsAs CITY, MISSOURI.

RnvoLvING AND oSoILLATING EAN.

Application :tiled November 17, 19236.` Serial No. 148,844.

My invention relates to improvements `1n revolving and oscillating fans.

It relates particularly to the type of elec tric fans having the `ian blades carried by the armature shaft of a motor mounted on and movable with a support which is oscillatableon a suitable base `by means actuated by the motor. l

One of the objects of my invention is to provide novel means by which the motor oscillates the motor support.

A further object of my invention is the` provision of novel means by which the motor may be made to oscillate the motorl support or to continuously revolve the support.

\ Still another object of my invention is to provide a novel mechanism of the kindde-` scribed, which issimple, cheap, durable, not liable to get out of order, which is readily adaptable to types of fans in general use,

and which is efficient in operation.

The novelV features of my invention are hereinafter fully `described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawing, which illustrates the preferred embodiment of `my invention, 1 f Fig. 1 is a side elevation of my improved an. A

Fig. `2 is section on the line 2- -2 of :so Fg- 1- Fig. 3 is an enlarged View of a portion of the same, partly in vertical section, partly in elevation and partly broken away.

Fig. 4is an enlarged section on the line 4 4 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is 'a section on the line 5-5 of Fig. 6. i

Fig. 6 is a sectional view on the line 6-6 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 7 is a section on the line 7-7 of Fig. 3. l

Fig. 8 is an enlarged sectional view on the` line 8--8 of Fig. 3.

. Similar characters of reference designate similar parts in the different views.

The base of the fan comprises two members, a lower member 1, which is of the form of the usual standard, to which is pivoted by a horizontal bolt 2 an upper base member 3, having at its upper end a vertical stem 4 on which is revolu'bly mounted on a vertical axis a pan Shaped lower member 5 of a motor support the upper member 6 of Which has mounte` on its upper sidea casing 7 `of an electric motor having the usual armature Shaft/8 carrying fan blades 9 revoluble with the armatureshaft on a horizontal axis.

The'lower member 5 of the motor sup ort may be mounted onballs 10 disposed in a ball race 11 with which the periphery of the stem 4 is provided, Fig. 6. l

The upper base member 3 has, below the stem 4, a peripheral flange 12 in the upper side of which are provided, concentric with the stein 4, two annular grooves in which are respectively mounted` two annular channels 13 and "14 of insulation material, in which channels are respectively mounted two annular conductive contact members 15 and 16 against which respectively bear two 70 contact members 17 and 18 which are respectively vertically slidable in two insulation collars=19 and 20, which are mounted in theupper portion of an inverted cup shaped portion 21 of the lower support member 5.

Respectively encircling the contact members 17 and 18 are two coil springs 22 and i 23, the upper endsV ofwhich bear against the collars 19 and 20 and the lower ends of which respectively bear against heads provided atthe lower ends of the contact members 17- and 18, the latter being held by a yielding pressure by the springs 22 and 23 against the annular contact members 15 and 16, as thesupporting member 5 revolves on the stem 4.

Wires 24, 25, 26 and 27,` which are in cir# cuit with the motor are respectively connected to the contact members 15, 16, 17 and 18.

.The motor is provided with a driving `element comprising avertical shaft 28 rotatably mounted in the support member 6, Fig. 3. For effecting oscillation of the motor support on the stem 4, the following described mechanism is provided. A rotary member comprising a spur gear wheel 29 is mounted on and rotatable with a vertical shaft 30 mountedin the member 6, and having adjacent to its `upper end a peripheral annular groove 31 in which is mounted the inner end of a horizontal screw 32 fitted in a threaded hole in the member 6, Fig. 3. .A pinion 33 fastened to the lower end of the driving shaft 28 meshes with and transmits rotation to the gear wheel 29, when the motor is operated to revolve the shaft 28.

A spur gear wheel 34 has an axial square hole in which is fitted a squared portion 35 of the stem 4, within the support member 5, whereby the gear wheel 34 is fixed against rotation.

Connecting means comprising a horizon tal member 36 is pivotally mounted adjacent to its ends on two crank pins 37 and 38 respectively mounted in the gear wheels 29 and 34, said pins being disposed substantially atV equal distances respectively from the axis of the gear wheel 29 and the axis of the motor support, which is the axial center of the fixed gear wheel 34.

ln order that the connecting bar 36 may pass the dead centers Without cramping, the bar vis provided with a slightly elongated slot 39 through which the pin 37 extends, thereby providing a lost mot-ion for the bar 36, so that it will not interfere with the free movement of the gear wheel 29, when the latter is employed to effect continuous revolution ofthe motor support, will be hereinafter described.

A, further, and also the principal function, of the lost motion of the bar 36 with relation to `the gear wheel 29,.is to permit the gear wheel 29 to continue its revolution and the crank pin 37 to pass thedead center,

i whenv the motor support has been revolved seventy live degrees, or approximately that distance, from the position shown in Fig. 2, and the motor support is then held, as will be described, fromV further revolution in the same direction, thereby permitting the bar 36 to effect oscillation of the motor support` When the gear wheel 29 is revolved counter clockwise, as viewed in Fig. 2, by means of thepinion 33 and driving shaft 2S revol'ving` clockwise, the bar k36, by engagement with the pins 37 and 38, will cause the motor support vto revolve on the stem 4 in the direction indicated by the arrow in Fig. 2. For limiting such revolving movement of the motor support to substantially seventy five degrees, it is necessary, as the crank pins are equidistant from the axes of the gear wheel 29 and of the motor support, that the motor support be held until'the crank pin 37 of the continuously revolving gear wheel 29 has passed the dead center, so that the bar 36 may operate Vto pull the motor support in the opposite direction.

To obtain such oscillatory movement of the motor support, a limiting` member comprising a lever 40, which is pivoted on a radial pin 4l on the periphery of the portion 2l of the member 5. has at one of its ends a downwardly extending hook 42, which, when that end of the lever 40 is moved downward ly, is adapted to pass between and to contact with any adjacent two lugs of four radial lugs 43 provided on the periphery of the flange 12, the lugs 43 being spaced apart substantially seventy live degrees, and each lug 43 having a length of substantially fifteen degrees. i

For swinging the lever 40 to and from a position in which the hook 42 will engage the lugs 43 in the revolution of the motor support, there is provided ya lever 44, Fig. l andFig. 3, which is pivoted on a pin 45 on the periphery of the portion 2l, and which has adjacent to one end a slot 46 into which extend-s a pin 47 on the end of the lever 40 opposite to the end having the hook 42. The other end of the lever 44 has two arms 48 which respectivley embrace opposite sides of a vertical operating member, which may be a shaft 49 rotatably and slidablymounted in the bottom ofthe motor support member 5. rlhe shaft v49 has an annular' peripheral groove 50 in which said arms 48 are disposed. The shaft 49 below the member 5 has a head 5l.

When the head 51 and shaft 49 are forced upwardly to the position shown in solid linesin Fig. 3, the lever 40 will be swung to the position shown in solid lines in said ligure, and the hook 42 will be higher than and will clear the lugs 43, thus permitting the motor support to revolve continuously in one direction. lVhen the shaft 49 is pulled downwardly to the position shown in dotted lines in Fig. 3, the lever 40 will be swung to the position shown in dotted lines in said ligure, and the hook 42 will pass be* tweenl and adapted to engage two of the lugs 43.

In this last namedposition of the leverV its pull on the gear wheel 29 cause the Vmotorl support to revolve in a .direction opposite to that indicated by the arrow in Fig. 2 nntil the (hook 42 strikes the lug 43 at the right in Fig. 3. The motor support will thus have Vits revolving movement' again stopped until the crank pin 37 again passes the dead center, following which the bar 36 will again exert a push on the gearwheel 29 which will cause the motor support to again revolve in the diection, indicated by the arrow in Fig. 2. i

The motor support will continue to oscillate a distance of substantially seventy five degrees until the shaft 49 is again forced upzimmer wardly` to` the position` shown in solid lines in Fig. 3 and the lever 40 is thus swung to clear the hook 42 from the lugs 43.

To obtain a continuous revolution in one direction of the motor support, there is fixed on the shaft 49a spur gear' wheel 52 which is in mesh with the fixed gear wheel 34, and which` has a vvertical slidable engagement therewith.

In alinement with the shaft 49 is a shaft 53 which is rotatably mounted in the support member 6, and which has fixed on it a spur gear wheel 54 which meshes with the gear ywheel 29. collar 55 is fastened on t the shaft 53 and has a bearing on `theupper side oit' the support-member 6 'for holding `the shaft from downward sliding. A clutch releasably connects the gear wheels 52 and 54, and may comprise the following described parts. Anannular flange 56 on theV under side of and concentric with the` gear wheel 54 has slidably and revolubly fitted in it an annular flange 57 on the upper side of and concentric with the gear wheel 52.

Within and fastened at one end to the :flange 57 is a spring 58, Fig. 4,\to which is fastened adjacent to its free end a rounded pin 59 which extends. through `a hole 60 in the 'flange 57, and which is adapted to enter a hole 61 in the flange 56, whereby the flanges 56 and 57 maybe releasably locked together, so that rotation :is `transmitted to the gear wheel 52 from the gear wheel 54, the latter being continuously revolved by the gearwheel 29.

The pin 59 and hole 61 are so relatively located that when the pin is in the hole 61, the hook 42 of the lever 40 will clear the lugs 43,as shown in solid lines in Fig. 3. W hen the shaft 49 is 'forced upwardly to a position in which the hookl 42 will clear the lugs 43, the pin 59 will be inthe horizontal plane of the hole '61. As lthe gear wheel 54 is revolved, the "pin 59 will travel along the inner periphery of the flange 56 until itreaches the hole 61 at which time it will enter said hole, thereby locking the wheels 52 and 54 together and imparting rotation to the gear wheel 52. The latter on revolving will travel around the fixed gear wheel 34, thereby continuously revolving the motor support until such time, as it is desired tovoscillate the support. Such oscillation. will be effected as hereinbefore described as soon as the shaft 49 is drawn downwardly to the released position of the clutch members, and the lever 40 is swung, as has been described to a position in which it will have its hook 42 engage two of the lugs 43. y

By having the lugs 43 each substantially .fifteen degrees in length, the hook 42 is held from passing between the lugs until a proper operative position of the motor support is solid lines in Fig. 3, and if it is desired toV change "the motion to an oscillating one, this may be `done by pulling the shaft 49 downwardly tothe dotted position in Fig. 3. The change in motion may be effected while the motor is running, and while retaining all of' the-elements in operative relation to each other, and with the oscillation and continuous revolution being effected in one plane of movement.

To hold the fixed gear wheel from upward movement on the stem 4, the upper end of the latter may be threaded and havemounted 'thereon a nut 62, Fig. 6, adapted to bear on the upper side of the gear wheel I do not limit my .invention to the structure shown and described, as many .modifications, within the scope of the appended claims, maybe made without departing from the spirit of `my invention.

l. In a fan of the kind described, the combination with `a base, a support revoluble thereon and a fan driving motor carried by said support and having a driving element, 'of a rotary member on said support, means actuated by said driving element for rotating said member,permanently fixed anchoring means on said base,y means pivotally connected to said rotary member and to said anchoring means at substantially equal distances from the axes of said member and said support for oscillating said support on its axis, and releasable means for connecting said support and said base for limiting the range of oscillation of said support.

2. Ina fan of the kind described, the combination with a base, a support revoluble thereon and a fan driving motor carried by said support and having a driving element, said base having two lugs spaced less than ninety degrees apart, of a rotary member on said support, means actuated by said driving element for rotating said member, anchoring means on said base, means pivotally connected to said rotary member and to said anchoring means at substantially equal dis tances from the axes of said member and said support for osc1llat1ng said support on its axis, and a stop member movable on said support to and from a position in which its path of movement with said support will be between and limited by said lugs.

3. In a fan of the kind described, the combination with a base, a support revoluble thereon and a fan driving motor carried by said support and having a driving element, of a rotary member onsaid support, means actuated by said driving member for rotating said member',` permanently xed anchoring means on said base around Which said support is revoluble, means pivotally connected to said rotary member and to said anchoring means at substantially equal distances from the axes ot said rotary member and said support, whereby oscillation of said support may be eitected, arranged to pass the dead center, releasable means for limiting the range of oscillation of said support, and releasable means connecting said rotary member ano said anchoring means for effecting continuous revolution of said support when said limiting means is released.

4. In a fan of the kind described, the combination with a base, a support revoluble thereon and a fan driving motor carried by said support and having a driving element, oia rotary member on said support, means actuated by said driving element for rotat ing said member, a permanently fixed gear Wheel on said base around which said support is revoluble, a rotary gear Wheel mounted on said support and meshing With said fixed gear Wheel, releasable driving means connecting said rotary member and said rotary gear Wheel, a connecting member pivotally connected eccentrically to said fixed gear wheel and to said rotary member, tor oscillating' said support when said driving means is released,4 and releasable means for limiting the range of oscillation of said support.

ln a fan of the kind described, the combination with a base, a support revoluble thereon and a tan driving motor carried by said support and having' a driving element, of a permanently fixed gear Wheel mounted on said base, the teeth ot said gear Wheel being concentric with the axis of said support, a rotary member mounted on said support, means actuated by said driving element for rotating' said rotary member, a connecting member pivoted to said rotary member and to said liXed gear Wheel at substantially equal distances from the axes of said support and said rotary member, means tor limiting the range of oscillation of said support to less than ninety degrees, a rotary gear Wheel mounted on said support and meshing with said ixed gear Wheel, and driving means releasably connecting said rotary member and said rotary gear Wheel for rotating the latter continuously in one direction.

6. In a tan of the kind described, the combination with a base having two lugs spaced apart less than ninety degrees, of a support revoluble on said base, a. limiting member movable on said support to and from a position in which it Will be between and adapted to contact with said lugs, a fan driving motor on said support having a driving element,` a gear Wheel .fixed to said base With its teeth concentric with the axis oi said support, a rotary member mounted on said support, means actuated by said driving element for rotating said rotary member, a connecting member pivoted to said iixed'gear Wheel and to said rotary member at substantially'equal distances from the axis of said support and of said rotary member, a rotary gear Wheel meshing With said fixed gear wheel, driving means including a clutch connecting said rotary member and said rotary gear Wheel, the latter being movable to and from a position in which said clutchA from its operative position between said4 lugs when said operating member is respectively moved to and from the release position of said clutch.

In testimony Whereol have signed my name to this specification.

JOSEPH P. SMITH, JUNIOR. 

